ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived on an official visit in Moscow on Tuesday to bolster ties between the two countries through parliamentary diplomacy. According to official sources, he was received by the Vice Chairman of the Russian State Duma Mr Alexander Babakov at the airport. They said the visit aims to expand cooperation between the governments and people of the two countries through parliamentary diplomacy. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State Duma and the National Assembly of Pakistan is also scheduled to be signed. Furthermore, the speaker will also hold bilateral meetings with the Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Vice Chairman of State Duma Alexander Babakov to deliberate upon ways to strengthen Pakistan-Russia ties. “These meetings will be instrumental in highlighting Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to boost ties with Russia,” said the officials. In his comments on his expectations about the visit, Mr Sadiq noted that “Pakistan wants to have excellent relations with Russia, which were already developing in a very positive way.” The Speaker also plans to invite his Russian counterpart Mr Vyacheslav Volodin to visit Pakistan. A five-member parliamentary delegation comprising lawmakers Abdul Qadir Patel, Syed Rafiullah, Sher Ali Arbab, Dr Muhammad Farooq Sattar and Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan is also accompanying the speaker. Besides having high-level meetings with Russian counterparts, the parliamentary delegation would also visit historical and cultural sites in Russia including the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to attend the wreath-laying ceremony, the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and the State Hermitage.